Device for inserting and removing electric lamps to and from sockets



Sept; 15, 1931. L. SCHULZ DEVICE FOR INSERTING AND REMOVING ELECTRIC LAMPS TO AND FROM SOCKETS Filed Jan. 9, 1951 A iiilfllllllllllllllfi 5 vllillllllllill llllft Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEO SCHULZ, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA DEVICE FOR INSERTING AND REMOVING ELECTRIC LAMPS TO AND FROM SOCKETS Application filed January 9, 1931. Serial No. 507,603.

This invention relates-to a new article of manufacture. The object of the present invention is to provide a device adapted to insert or remove incandescent lamps from 6 sockets.

The device of the invention consists broadly of a plurality of spring fingers in spaced relation secured to the end of a rod or pole (preferably of telescope construc- 10 tion), the spring fingers adapted to engage the surface of an electric lamp so that the same may be removed from the usual screw threaded socket.

Other objects and advantages will be ap- 15 parent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device in applied position for removing or inserting an electric lamp from a conventional chandelier.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of an adapter adapted to be inserted in the device when employed toremove small size lamps.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, 10 generally designates the device which consists of a plurality of resilient 35 fingers 12 preferably formed from a pair of spring metal strips disposed at right angles to each other and bent into required shape to engage the surface of a usual electric lamp designated at L in Fig. 1.

The lower portion of the fingers are curved outwardly as indicated at 14 and overlap, and are rigidly secured to the upper end of a rod or pole 16 by a screw or the like 18.

When the device is used to remove or install ceiling lamps, the curved portions 14 of the resilient fingers 12 will act as a resilient cushion and prevent accidental breakage of the lamp bulbs should the device be 50 forcibly pushed into engagement therewith.

The upper portion 19 of the fingers are formed on a radius which conforms substantially to the shape of a usual lamp and terminate in eyes 20 engaging an elastic member 21 which tends to draw the ends together and form frictional engagement with the lamp.

Disposed between the spring fingers and engaging the inner faces thereof is a pad 22 of concave shape preferably formed of soft rubber provided with a lug 23 project ing downwardly therefrom between the lower ends of the fingers, the pad being held in place by a bolt 24 disposed in an aper- A ture formed in the lug, and engaged by a nut 25 and a washer 26. The portions of the fingers engaging the lug being reinforced by a metal band 28.

Rod 16 consists of a plurality of tubular sections 30 each of which are provided with an annular abutment on their lower ends which frictionally engage the inner wall of the sections, and contact with caps 31 secured to the upper ends when in extended position as shown in Fig. 3.

Formed in the wall of the sections are longitudinal grooves 32 into which extend tongues 33 secured to the caps, the tongues serve to hold the. sections against relative rotary movement when applying or removing a lamp from the socket.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, an adapter generally designated at 40 consists of a pair of metal spring members 41 secured together, the members having curved portions 42 terminating in hooks 43 adapted to removably engage the eyes 21 of the device 10. The adapter being employed when applying or removing lamps of small size, i. e., lamps of a size which the spring fingers 12 will not engage.

VVhen a lamp is positioned in the device the spring fingers engage the lamp at a plurality of points, and draw it into engagement with the pad, the elastic member then coacting with the fingers to increase the frictional engagement with the surface of the lamp. The spring fingers yielding sufficiently to permit easy insertion or removal of a lamp, and are of sufiicient resiliency to? accommodate and grip electric lamps of various sizes, for example, from 25 to Watts.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the device provides convenient means for inserting or removing an electric lamp from a socket, especially so for lamps mounted in sockets out of reach or which have become heated.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising a handle including a plurality of sections telescopically arranged, means to lock said sections together against rotation when extended, a plurality of spring fingers hav-' ing upper curved portions conforming sub stantially to the configuration of an electric bulb lamp, the lower portions of said fingers being also curved to form resilient arms, a pad of pliable material having a cup shaped upper portion and a central lug projecting from its lower end, said lug being seated between the curved portions of the spring fingers, means encircling the spring fingers between the curved portions to hold the pad in rigid engagement with the spring fingers, and means to secure the spring fingers to the upper end of the handle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEO SCHULZ. 

